July 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 9. U S N N


Rafael Peralta scoring high on their light-off assessment, which assesses a ship’s ability to get underway. “Our team of Sailors, civilians and


contractors embrace NAVSUP’s ‘Ready. Resourceful. Responsive!’ ethos,” Mitchell explained.


Mitchell added that NAVSUP FLC


Norfolk, Bath Division works as part of a partnership between NAVSUP and Naval Sea Systems Command that, “... basically allows the warfi ghter to be the warfi ghter, and leaves logistics to be handled by the logisticians.” Rafael Peralta is scheduled to join the


fl eet later this year and Thomas Hudner is scheduled for commissioning next year. NAVSUP FLC Norfolk, one of eight


fl eet logistics centers under NAVSUP GLS, provides operational logistics, business and support services to fl eet, shore and industrial commands with 37 separate locations in three Navy regions. NAVSUP GLS provides global logis-


tics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises. A component of the Naval Supply


Systems Command headquartered in Me- chanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP GLS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian per- sonnel providing combat capability through logistics.


USNS City of Bismarck (EPF 9) Launched


From Team Ships Public Aff airs


MOBILE, Ala. (NNS) -- The launching of a ship represents a multi-step process. The ship is constructed in a Modular Manufac- turing Facility and is moved to a docking barge and then transported to a dry dock where it can be submerged into the water. All of this takes place over the course of two days.


“Launching the ninth ship in the EPF


production line is a great achievement for the Navy and Austal,” said Capt. Henry Ste- vens, Strategic Theater and Sealift program manager, Program Executive Offi ce, Ships. “Launching is a signifi cant achievement in the production process. We’ll now focus our eff orts to fi nal outfi tting in preparation for trials.”


EPF 9 is designed for the fast intra-the-


ater transportation of troops, military vehi- cles and equipment. Capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, the ship will provide U.S. forces with added mobility and fl exibility. EPFs are equipped with a fl ight deck


and an off -load ramp which allow for vehi- cles and helicopters to quickly access ports and quays. Littoral operations and port access are further enhanced by the ship’s 15- foot shallow draft, ability to interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and ease of access to austere and deteriorated piers. This makes EPF 9 an extremely fl exible asset, capable of supporting a wide range of operations including non-combatant evacu- ation operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The Navy and industry partner Austal


USA have already marked major milestones on the EPF program this year. USNS Yuma (EPF 8) delivered in April and the Navy christened USNS City of Bismarck (EPF 9) the following month. Austal is also under contract for the construction of EPF 11 and EPF 12. As one of the Defense Department’s


largest acquisition organizations, Program Executive Offi ce Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and boats and craft.


USS Gabrielle Giff ords Commissioned in Galveston


From Naval Surface Forces Public Aff airs GALVESTON, Texas (NNS) -- USS Gabri- elle Giff ords (LCS 10), the Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, was brought to life by her crew before a crowd of nearly 2,500 guests at Pier 21 at the Port of Galveston, June 10.


Adm. William Moran, Vice Chief of


Naval Operations, delivered the ceremony’s principal address before offi cially commis- sioning the ship into service. “As we man the rails today, blood gets


pumped, the ship comes alive, and the heart begins to beat,” said Moran. “It’s the blood that is infused by the spirit, the attitude, and the courage of its namesake. We are so proud to be part of Gabrielle Giff ords’ legacy to the United States.” Following the commissioning, Dr.


Jill Biden, the ship’s sponsor and wife of former Vice President Joe Biden, gave the time-honored Navy tradition of ordering the crew to “man our ship and bring her to life!” The crowd sounded its approval as the


crew ran aboard the ship to man their as- signed stations and complete the ceremony of bringing the ship into active service to end a story that began more than fi ve years ago. In 2012 the Secretary of the Navy an-


nounced the future ship’s name, and USS Gabrielle Giff ords became the 16th ship to be named for a woman and only the 13th ship to be named for a living person since 1850. The ship is commanded by Cmdr. Keith


Woodley, a native of St. Thomas, U.S. Vir- gin Islands, who leads the core crew of 50 offi cers and enlisted personnel. During the ceremony Woodley praised


Offi cial U.S. Navy fi le photo of The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mi- chael Murphy (DDG 112). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan K. Serpico/Released)


the crew for their dedication and hard work in getting the ship ready for service. “This is not just a new ship. This is a


new class of ship and that makes it even more challenging for the crew,” said Wood- ley. “They have risen to that challenge and performed exceptionally well in getting this ship ready for service.” Most other Navy surface combatant


ships have a crew of 300 or more Sailors, but littoral combat ships like Gabrielle Giff ords have more automated systems and much smaller crews than their counterparts. Ga- brielle Giff ords’ crew is just 73 at the ship’s commissioning. “It’s not easy being an LCS Sailor,”


said Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Mark Dobri- nin. “We have to wear so many hats and be trained on systems and duties outside of our normal job specialty due to the small crew size. Every enlisted Sailor here volunteered for the program and we’re excited to serve on USS Gabrielle Giff ords.” The 3,200-ton Gabrielle Giff ords was


built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The ship is 421 feet in length and has a beam of 103 feet and a navigational draft of 15 feet. The ship uses two gas turbine and two diesel engines to power four steerable waterjets to speeds in excess of 40 knots. Littoral combat ships are fast, agile, mission-focused platforms designed to operate in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean tasking, and win against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines, and swarming small craft.


A fast, maneuverable, and networked


surface combatant, Gabrielle Giff ords is capable of operating independently or with an associated strike group. It is designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance in coastal waters. USS Gabrielle Giff ords will depart Gal-


veston and begin her transit to her homeport at Naval Base San Diego.


USS Michael Murphy Returns From Five-Month Deployment


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From Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Aff airs


PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) returned to its homeport Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a successful fi ve-month deployment June 13.


While deployed to the Western Pacifi c


under the U.S. 3rd Fleet Forward construct, Michael Murphy promoted security and stability throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacifi c region. The ship was underway for nearly 150 days and conducted more than 600 fl ight hours with the ship’s attached heli- copter squadron Maritime Helicopter Strike Squadron (HSM) 37, Detachment 2.


Continued on Page 20.


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